Knockdown box



(No Model.)

J. HOTHAM.

KNOGKDOWN BOX.

No. 371,322. Patented 005. 11,1887.

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN HOTHAM, OF HILLSIDE, PENNSYLVANIA.

KNOCKDOWN BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,322, dated October11, 1887.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HOTHAM, of Hillside, in the county of\Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new andImproved Knockdown Box, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

Reference is to be had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my new and improved knockdown box asit appears when set up and closed. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinalsectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken011 the line 00 ac ofFig. 2, and Fig. 4 is an end view of the body ofthe box folded.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawings,and then pointed out in the claims.

Thebodyoftheboxiscomposedofthetwo side pieees,c a,dup1ieatcs of eachother, and the two end pieces, M. The side pieces, a a, are united attheir ends to the edges of the end pieces by the hinges c c, whichpermit the body of the box to fold into substantially a flat state, asshown in Fig. 4, and also enable it to be easily and quickly set up intobox form, as shownin Fig. 1. The upper and lower edges of the sidepieces, a, are turned or partially rolled to form the flanges a, withwhich the flanges d d ofthe top and bottom pieces,D D,engage to formsecure clasps orjoints,as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The end piece, b, of the box is formed at its upper and lower edges withthe inwardly-projecting flanges h h, to support the plain ends of thetop and bottom pieces, D D, as shown in Fig. 2, and so that there willbe no spaces between the said end piece and the adjacent ends of the topand bottom pieces. The opposite end piece, I), is madeplain at its upperand lower edges, and is provided near its upper edge with twofastening-lugs, j, which proj eet outward.

The cover D is formed with a flange, d, in which the small slots oropenings (1 are cut to receive the fastening-lugs f when the cover isput in place, as shown in Fig. 2. The lugs f are perforated to receivethe fastening-pins e for fastening the cover upon the box. The pins eare madein this instance a part of the springarms 0, held to the outersurface of the end wall, I), by the clasp 0', so that the fasteningdevice for the cover becomes a permanent part of the box and is alwaysat hand.

The bottom piece, D, of the box is formed with the flange g, providedwith the inwardlyprojecting studs g, which are adapted to pass throughsmall openings or slots g, made near the lower edge of the end wall I),as shown in Fig. 2. The studs g are perforated to receive fastening-pinsg for locking the bottom piece, D, to the main body of the box. The pins9 are made apart of the springarms 9, held to the inner surface of theend wall, I), by the clasp When the box is to be folded, thefasteningpins e g have simply to be removed and the cover D and bottom Ddrawn endwise from the flanges a a of the side walls, a. This done, thebody of the box may be collapsed into nearly a flat state, as shown inFig. 4, the sides and ends turning on the hinges 0.

In order to set up the box, the main body has simply to be aligned uponthe hinges c and the bottom D slid upon the flanges a. so that theflanges d clasp the flanges a, as shown in Fig. 3, which firmly holdsthe bottom in place and causes the bottom to hold the main body fromcollapsin The pins may now be inserted and the box filled. After thisthe cover D is to be slid in place to cause the flanges a and cl toclasp. The pins are then put in place, which locks the cover and alsothe entire box firmly in upright position, so that it and its contentscan be safely shipped to any distance.

\Vhen the box is to be returned, the cover and bottom will'be simplyremoved and the body collapsed and the whole shipped flat.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a knockdown box having a main bodycomposed of sheet-metal side pieces, a a, and sheet-metal end pieces, I)b,- hinged together, and the top D and bottom D, united to the edgesofthe said end and side walls, substantially as described.

2. The side wall, a a, formed with the edge flanges, a, and hinged tothe end walls, I) b, in combination with the top and bottom pieces,

D D, formed with the edge clasps or flanges, d d, to engage with theflanges a, substantially as described.

3. The end walls, I) b, hinged to the side 5 walls, a a, the wall bbeing formed with slots 9, in combination with the bottom D, formed withthe flange g and provided with the fastening-lugs g and fasteningdevices 9 substantially as and for the purposes set forth. IO 4. The endwalls, I) and b, hinged to the side walls, the wall I) being providedwith thelugs f, in combination with the top D, formed with the flange dformed with the slots dfland, the fasteningpins 6 substantially as andfor the 15 purposes described.

5. The side walls, a a, and end walls, b and b, the latter provided withpermanent springs having fasteni ng-pins, in combination with the coverD and bottom D, provided with flanges and fastening-lugs, substantiallyas described. 20

6. The body of the box,composed of the end walls, b b, hinged to theside walls, a, the latter formed with the edge flanges, a, and the endwall, 7), provided with fastening devices, in combination with cover andbottom formed 25 with edge flanges, d d, and end flanges, d g, andfastening-lugs upon the cover and bottom, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

' JOHN HOTHAM. Witnesses:

JOHN J. ROTH, F. B. WILsoN.

